Peshawar Zalmi become champions of PSL 2017

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi drubbed Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the much exciting final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017.

All Quetta Gladiators players were shown exit on 90 runs off 16.3 overs. They entered the final game with comparatively weaker batting side as their regular foreign players did not turn up for the final in Lahore.

Kamran Akmal received Player of the Tournament award. Sammy was given Man of the Match award for the final.

Sarfraz Ahme said: “We really did badly with the bat. We succumbed to pressure. Fall of first five wickets was the turning point. It was a chase-able total.”

Sarfraz Ahmed acknowledged there was some pressure for sure (without the big guns).

Darren Sammy gave credit to Shahid Afridi for motivating him to play in Lahore.

The regular overseas players of Gladiators could not come to Lahore for the final match of PSL second edition. Hence, Sarfraz Ahmed-led team picked Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper batsman Anamul Haque, Zimbabwe’s duo of talented all-rounder Sean Ervine and hard hitting Elton Chigumbura, South Africa’s Morne Van Wyk and West Indian pacer Rayad Emrit for the final.

In addition, Aizaz Cheema was picked by Gladiators as a replacement for Umar Gul, who fractured his hand earlier in the tournament.

Darren Sammy had said prior to match: “It looks like a good wicket. Last game we lost the toss and scored 180. The atmosphere is great and hopefully Peshawar come out victorious.”

“My good friend Lala said ‘If we get to the final you should come to Lahore for the final’. Hopefully we can entertain and cricket will be the winner. We have an enforced change with Afridi getting injured.”

After nine players of Quetta Gladiators were out Shahid Afridi said: “I am not disappointed to be missing the final, my team is winning. I thank for foreign players for coming here and sending out a positive message.”

Local rockstars forced Lahore groove to the tunes. Singer Ali Zafar presented official song for second edition of PSL. Another famous Pakistani singer Fakhir Mehmood sang a national song. Pop singer Ali Azmat also graced the event with his enthralling voice. Ali Azmat sang several songs and a qawwali ‘Dama Dum Mast Qalandar’.

The cheering and glaring crowd erupted in crackling seeing both the teams, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, entering the stadium.

Defying the security threats, the stadium was already packed with spectators way before the match started. Nation is jubilant over cricket’s return to the homeland.

Chairman PSL Najam Sethi was well greeted by the crowed. “Had we not have your support, we were not able to hold this mega event. This is all yours. We will not bow down before any enemy,” said the chairman PSL.

He said Pakistanis were peaceful people and knew how to play cricket and host cricket event.

Sethi thanked the Punjab government and high officials for making this dream of hosting PSL final come true.

Five layers of security were put in place with over 10,000 police and paramilitary force guarding the Qaddafi Stadium and its surroundings.

Nation rejoices as international action lands in Pakistan. Here is how twitterites reacted to the mega cricket event:

Public response to PSL final is how Pakistanis defy adversity AH.Terror will not dictate our way of life..Let the msg be heard loud & clear